Should You Really Grow Mint?

Mint is one of those plants that gardeners seem to love to hate. Not because of its many fantastic uses but because of its ability to spread and take over. I admit that it does seem to have lofty ideas about taking over the world but I truly can’t imagine  a garden without mint. What else can so easily turn a plain ‘ol glass of ice water or tea into a swanky looking beverage, just by adding a sprig?   And what if you suddenly had an urge to throw a Mojito party?

I doubt you’d be able to buy enough mint in those weird little plastic packages found on the produce aisle to make more than a couple of drinks.  Besides your guests will be so impressed by the look and taste of your own homegrown mint!  As long as you set some good strong boundaries for mint it will stay where it’s planted ( I wish some people were as easy to reason with). We repurposed an old wheelbarrow in our garden to hold Kentucky Colonel Mint and so far it has behaved quite nicely and not overstepped its bounds.

The problem lies  not in if you should grow mint, but deciding on which variety.  We offer Apple, Curly, Ginger, Spearmint, Peppermint, Eau de Cologne, Chocolate, Kentucky Colonel, and Orange Bergamot. Each have their own unique tastes.

Mint is super easy to grow.  It prefers full sun, but will put up with some shade and really only requires an average amount of water.  I throw a little compost on our patch to keep it green and it responds by supplying us all summer long with its wonderful leaves and flowers that our honeybees adore!  We cut it back in the fall and just to be on the safe side never throw its cuttings in the compost pile.  World domination is a scary business and well, I’d rather just error on the safe side!

Happy Gardening,